UNHCR: 935,000 civilians displaced in CAR

The deteriorating situation in Central African Republic has displaced over 935,000 civilians and the humanitarian situation remains dire in the country, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in a statement Friday. Based on the worsened situation and renewed violence, UNHCR expressed its concern over the situations in the country. "Targeted attacks against civilians, looting and the presence of armed elements at some displacement sites have severely limited humanitarian agencies' access to those in need of urgent assistance," said Babar Baloch, UNHCR spokesman. He added that over 51,000 refugees are currently sheltering in 67 sites in the capital Bangui, or living with host families, the total number accounts for half of Bangui's total population. Despite the increasing difficulties to reach the displaced civilians, UNHCR has provided tents, blankets and other relief items to 23,000 people from over 4,600 households since December 5. In the coming weeks, UNHCR will establish a sub-office in Bossangoa and two field units. Since March last year, some 75,000 refugees have fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Chad and Cameroon. By December, as many as 240,000 refugees left the conflict-ridden country.